25 Essential Hip-Hop Albums

The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die - East Coast

Ready to Die (1994) is one of rap’s most celebrated coming-of-age albums. From the bleak “Things Done Changed” to the playa anthem “Big Poppa” to the evergreen anthem “Juicy,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s vivid storytelling was impeccable and he showed maturity beyond his 22 years. The album changed the face of East Coast hip-hop and catapulted the late Biggie Smalls into the well-deserved candidacy for the greatest of all time.